SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--8x8, Inc. (NASDAQ: EGHT), a leading global business communications platform provider, has acquired Maven Lab, a Singapore-based leader in mobile marketing and enterprise messaging, accelerating the company's strategy to deliver end-to-end customer engagement across the Asia- Pacific region. The acquisition expands 8x8's APAC-native messaging, automation, and customer engagement capabilities, strengthening support for enterprise and public-sector organizations across Asia- Pacific ...

We remember the experiences that move us. The moments that make us feel connected, seen, and a part of something larger than ourselves. Our minds catalog experiences in a storylike format, gathering together all of the sensory information like sight, sense, and hearing, adding context and deep meaning.Today, I want to explore how emotionally resonant experiences and those that are truly engaging are the ones that our mind builds memories around. These become part of our story. I also want to show you how yo ...

Core Insights - The LA Kings have announced a multi-year partnership with Twilio, marking Twilio's first major collaboration with an NHL team [1][2] - Twilio's logo will be featured on the Kings' away helmets during all regular season and playoff games starting from the 2025-26 season, providing significant brand exposure [1][2] - The partnership aims to enhance fan engagement through Twilio's customer engagement technology, allowing for personalized communication and interactive experiences [2][3] Partnership Details - The partnership will enable the LA Kings to implement Twilio's technology for improved communication with season ticket members and fans [2][4] - Twilio will host away-game events and hospitality experiences in key markets, leveraging the helmet exposure during nationally televised games [2][3] - The collaboration will include the creation of custom content showcasing Twilio's technology throughout the season [2][3] Strategic Importance - The partnership aligns with the LA Kings' strategy to deepen connections with fans and enhance their overall experience [4] - Twilio's platform is expected to drive measurable impact across the Kings' business by creating tailored experiences for fans [4] - The relationship reflects a shared vision of integrating offerings from both organizations to benefit fans significantly [4]

A participant walks past a Netflix sign during the "Netflix x CicLAvia-Melrose Ave: Stranger Things 5 One Last Ride" down Melrose Avenue last month in Los Angeles. (Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times) Netflix shares dipped Monday after Paramount announced a hostile takeover bid, fueling worries on Wall Street that the streaming giant may not be able to pull off its audacious acquisition. Netflix stock closed down nearly 3.5% to $96.79 a share after Paramount moved to take its case directly to Warner Br ...

Analysts. Investors very excited about the voice applications in particular for their customer engagement. Is that what drives us.Well, we had a great quarter and I would say across the board Voici was certainly a contributor, but every single one of our products contributed. This time. I'd say messaging and voice in particular were particularly strong.In addition to that, across channels, across geos, across customer segments. It was just a really good quarter for us. And fortunately we were able to beat o ...

Core Insights - NICE Ltd. is a global leader in providing cloud and on-premises enterprise software solutions, specializing in customer engagement, financial crime, and compliance solutions [1] - The company competes with major tech firms like Salesforce and Oracle in the customer engagement sector, attracting attention from Wall Street analysts [1] Price Target and Analyst Recommendations - Morgan Stanley has set a price target of $193 for NICE, indicating a potential 46% increase from its current price of $132.21 [2] - The average brokerage recommendation (ABR) for NICE is 1.76, suggesting a favorable outlook between Strong Buy and Buy [2] - Out of 17 brokerage firms, 10 have given a Strong Buy recommendation, while one has rated it as a Buy, reflecting a positive sentiment with 58.8% Strong Buy and 5.9% Buy recommendations [2] Stock Performance - NICE's stock is currently priced at $132.21, having experienced a 1.79% increase, which translates to a rise of $2.33 [3] - The stock has fluctuated between a low of $131.05 and a high of $132.80 during the day [3] - Over the past year, NICE has reached a high of $200.65 and a low of $126.66, indicating volatility in its trading pattern [3] Market Capitalization and Trading Volume - NICE has a market capitalization of approximately $8.22 billion, reflecting the total market value of its outstanding shares [4] - The trading volume stands at 556,807 shares, indicating the level of investor interest and activity in the stock [4]

Core Insights - CallTower has launched the Ascend Teams Contact Center, a solution designed to enhance customer engagement and streamline operations within the Microsoft Teams ecosystem [1][3][4] Company Overview - CallTower is a leader in the Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) market, focusing on transforming global communication and collaboration for businesses [6][9] - The company has been operational since 2002 and has established itself as a global leader in enterprise-class cloud communications [6] Product Features - Ascend Teams Contact Center integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, providing a unified communications environment [7] - The platform offers enhanced customer engagement through robust communication tools across multiple channels [7] - Advanced analytics and reporting capabilities are included, allowing businesses to gain insights into customer behavior and agent performance [7] Strategic Partnerships - The development of Ascend Teams Contact Center was in collaboration with Intermedia Cloud Communications, emphasizing CallTower's commitment to partnering with leading technology providers [2][5] - The acquisition of Inoria in 2025 has amplified CallTower's CCaaS and customer experience capabilities, enhancing its service offerings with AI and advanced analytics [8] Market Position - CallTower is recognized as a top-tier global Microsoft Teams Operator Connect provider, enhancing collaboration and productivity for businesses [5][6] - The company aims to exceed customer expectations by delivering key integrations and innovative solutions tailored to customer needs [5]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a positive momentum shift in Q2, with third-quarter positive comps, contrasting with the previous year's eight quarters of negative comps [4][5] - Home prices have appreciated by approximately 50% since the end of 2019, contributing to a healthier consumer base [5] - The company noted a significant amount of untapped equity in homes, which has not yet translated into increased consumer spending on large projects [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2, 13 out of 16 departments in the U.S. experienced positive comps, indicating broad-based growth across various categories [11] - The company is taking market share in both consumer and professional segments, with growth in virtually every category outpacing the marketplace [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The housing market is described as being close to frozen, with housing turnover at forty-year lows, which is impacting consumer engagement in larger projects [6][7] - Despite economic uncertainties, the company believes that consumer engagement in home improvement will eventually increase as people become accustomed to current economic conditions [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its pro capabilities through acquisitions and organic growth strategies, aiming to capture more share of wallet from existing customers [30][36] - The company has made significant investments in supply chain improvements and digital assets to enhance delivery speed and customer service [41][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the second half of the year, anticipating improvements as tax cuts benefit consumers [51] - The company is closely monitoring pricing elasticity and consumer behavior in response to recent price adjustments, indicating a cautious but proactive approach [52] Other Important Information - The company has diversified its supply chain to mitigate tariff impacts, with over 50% of goods manufactured in the U.S. [17][18] - The company is committed to maintaining competitive pricing while protecting project costs, which is crucial for customer retention [21][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the outlook for the consumer environment in the second half? - Management expects the environment to improve as tax cut benefits flow through to consumers [51] Question: Have there been any elasticity impacts from recent pricing actions? - Management noted that there is not much elasticity in their product pricing and is closely monitoring pricing tests [52] Question: What are the expectations for inventory growth in the second half? - Management indicated that there will be no significant changes in inventory growth, maintaining a business-as-usual approach [56] Question: What are the expectations for non-tariff margin drivers into 2026? - Management affirmed that operating costs will remain largely unchanged, with further discussions planned for the investor conference [58] Question: What is the outlook for market share consolidation in the retail space? - Management believes that competitive dynamics will remain stable, with some potential for consolidation in the distribution space [60]

Core Insights - Sezzle (SEZL) has experienced a remarkable 74.2% year-over-year increase in gross merchandise volume (GMV) in Q2 2025, continuing a trend of significant growth over the past quarters [1][9] - The company's focus on consumer engagement through product innovation and targeted marketing has led to improved user loyalty and consistent profit growth [2] - Customer engagement is reflected in the increase in purchase frequency, which rose to 6.1 from 4.8 year-over-year, indicating a shift towards regular usage of Sezzle's services [3] Financial Performance - Sezzle's GMV growth has resulted in a 76.4% year-over-year increase in revenue, with operating income soaring 116.1% year-over-year and margins expanding by 6.8 basis points [5] - Adjusted net income increased by 91.8% year-over-year, showcasing strong underlying profitability driven by a loyal user base [6] Subscriber Growth - The number of Monthly On-Demand & Subscribers reached 748,000 in Q2 2025, marking a 13.7% sequential increase, which is attributed to successful product innovations [4] Stock Performance - SEZL's stock price surged 315.5% over the past year, significantly outperforming the industry growth of 22.7% and the S&P 500's rise of 14.3% [7] Valuation Metrics - Sezzle trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.45X, slightly above the industry average of 22.17X, while competitors OppFi and PayPal have lower ratios of 6.62X and 12.13X, respectively [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sezzle's earnings for 2025 and 2026 has increased by 2.8% and 2.3%, respectively, over the past 60 days [14]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Twilio reported record revenue of $1,228,000,000 for Q2 2025, representing a 13% year-over-year increase on both a reported and organic basis [18] - Non-GAAP income from operations reached $221,000,000, up 26% year-over-year, with a non-GAAP operating margin of 18% [25][27] - Free cash flow was a record $263,000,000 for the quarter [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from the Communications business was $1,153,000,000, up 14% year-over-year, with messaging revenue growth accelerating for the fourth consecutive quarter [18][19] - Segment revenue remained flat at $75,000,000 year-over-year, with a dollar-based net expansion rate of 108% [20][21] - Non-GAAP gross margin for Communications was 49.2%, while Segment's was 74.3% [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of large deals closed (over $500,000) increased by 57% year-over-year, indicating strong market demand [9] - The dollar-based net expansion rate for Communications was 109%, reflecting improving growth trends [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Twilio is focusing on product-led innovation and operational efficiencies to drive growth, particularly in messaging and voice channels [8][18] - The company is investing in AI capabilities and enhancing its platform to support customer engagement, with a strategic partnership with Microsoft announced [15][16] - Twilio aims to stabilize and improve gross margins through pricing and cost actions, including announced price increases in messaging and voice [24][27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the durability of growth across various industries, despite tougher comparisons in the second half of the year [42][60] - The company is optimistic about the impact of AI on its growth trajectory and sees significant opportunities in the AI space [86][87] Other Important Information - Twilio's platform is increasingly recognized for its ability to deliver personalized customer experiences, with Gartner naming it a leader in the CPaaS Magic Quadrant for the third consecutive year [16] - The company is integrating Segment with its communications capabilities to create a more unified platform [26][98] Q&A Session Summary Question: Where is Twilio seeing the most traction with ISVs? - Management noted strong traction across verticals such as financial services and healthcare, with use cases starting with messaging and expanding to voice and RCS [31] Question: What is the impact of the price increase in the quarter? - Management indicated that the impact was not material [32] Question: Why implement a price increase now? - The price increase reflects the growth of the self-service business and the company's pricing power [36] Question: Where are new customers coming from? - New customers are primarily coming from the self-service channel, with innovations reducing onboarding friction [39] Question: How durable is the growth profile? - Management expressed confidence in the durability of growth across various industries and customer segments [42] Question: How is voice performing relative to expectations? - Voice is performing well, driven by demand from voice AI customers and new product launches [64] Question: How is Twilio prioritizing R&D investments? - The company is focusing on responsible investments in engineering to capture AI opportunities [92] Question: How are customers responding to the integration of customer profiles? - Customers are showing strong interest in the integration of Segment capabilities with communications, driving ROI [98]